SYDNEY - Rio Tinto on Thursday posted a sharp rise in second quarter iron ore output from a year ago as it battled to maintain its top market position in China, even as selling prices deteriorate and bad weather disrupted operations.

SYDNEY - The Australian state of New South Wales has proposed changing its mining approval process to give greater consideration to environmental concerns, potentially threatening a colliery expansion planned by mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd.

SYDNEY, July 7 - The Australian state of New South
Wales has proposed changing its mining approval process to give
greater consideration to environmental concerns, potentially
threatening a colliery expansion planned by mining giant Rio
Tinto Ltd.

- Mining firm Rio Tinto Ltd has pledged to invest at least $250 million to $300 million in the construction of the underground section of the massive Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine in Mongolia this year, Mongolia's prime minister said on Friday.

LONDON - Global miner Rio Tinto plans to sell some of its aluminum assets in a potential $1 billion deal, the Financial Times reported, reviving a sale plan for its Pacific Aluminium unit two years after it was canceled.

BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL, May 11 - Anglo American
may increase capacity at its Minas-Rio iron ore mine in
Brazil by nearly 10 percent, a move that could cut unit costs at
the troubled $13 billion project, the company's Brazil chief
executive said on Monday.

TOKYO - Japan's aluminum premiums for April-June shipments were mostly set at $380 per metric ton, down for the first time in six quarters on higher inventories and slumping spot premiums, six sources directly involved in the talks said.